We Got Lists: 5 Big Questions About Westworld

By now, you know that Westworld isn’t just some overblown successor to Game of Thrones. At the time of this writing we’re five episodes in and it looks like a bona fide hit of its own, and the next item on an increasingly lengthy list of major HBO successes. Based on the 1973 Michael Crichtonfilm of the same name, chronicling the events around a futuristic park that brings the Old West back to life through the use of indistinguishably humanlike androids, it’s a mind-bending adventure overflowing with thrills and mysteries. Without a doubt, it’s here to stay.

And Westworld wouldn’t be the biggest new thing on television if we didn’t already have a bunch of major questions about it! So without further ado, let’s dive into five of the biggest topics on our minds in the early going. (Some mild spoilers follow.)

How Long Will This Go?

If you’ve been watching Westworld you may have noticed that it seems to be moving rather quickly. Again, we’re just five episodes in, and already there are some major theories rounding into form, separate narratives coming together, and mysteries being unraveled. Though unlikely, it actually seems feasible that this could all wrap up in a single season’s time, making Westworld a one-off. But that’s almost definitely not what will actually happen. In fact, it sounds like it’s pretty far off. Cinemablend recently quoted series lead James Marsden saying that five or six seasons are already planned.

Will There Be Spinoffs?

It’s a little early to be asking this question. We don’t usually start talking about possible spinoffs until a series nears its end. That said, we’ve already heard a very bizarre rumor about a crossover concept. According to Indiewire, George R.R. Martin pitched a Westworld/Game of Thrones mashup. With that idea already on the table, it’s hard not to wonder about the different ways this series could branch off from itself.

Will There Be Games?

Westworld is, naturally, being compared to Game Of Thrones quite a bit. When looking beyond just television this has to make fans wonder if there will be gaming adaptations. Thrones has actually been somewhat lacking in this regard. There were a few failed console games followed by the Telltale series that’s still running. It was also noted in the details of prominent online platforms that Game of Thrones has its own slot reel featuring four of the great houses of Westeros. The latter is actually part of a growing trend for major pop culture properties to essentially advertise themselves by licensing characters and artwork to slot arcade developers. But slots and Telltale adventures aside, Thrones hasn’t really had a major, action-packed game. It goes without saying that fans will be hoping for a bit more from Westworld, although one can imagine a similar trajectory in gaming.

Are We Working With One Timeline?

Getting into all of the details here requires a lot of time and effort, and probably a Reddit deep dive. But, suffice it to say, there are multiple theories circulating suggesting that the different elements of Westworld‘s first season are taking place on multiple timelines. However, at this juncture, it’s a little dizzying to think about how these timelines would be related.

Just How Real Is This?

This question isn’t actually about the show, and it can’t really be answered, but it’s worth mentioning that this may be the most mind-bending, “meta” work of big or small screen fiction since The Matrix. In writing up its own list of questions and theories about the show, Business Insider focused largely on the audience experience. Do we live in a simulation? Could we control advanced AI? How close is Westworld to reality? What is the nature of consciousness? These are huge, uncomfortably real questions, and watching Westworld, both delightfully and torturously, forces us to ask them.